Waterworld (1995)

Waterworld (1995) is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds and starring Kevin Costner, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Dennis Hopper. Set in a future where the polar ice caps have melted, flooding the Earth and creating a vast world of water, Waterworld is known for its ambitious scale, high-budget production, and its exploration of themes like survival, environmental collapse, and the human spirit.
The film takes place in a dystopian future where the Earth has been completely submerged by rising sea levels caused by the melting of the polar ice caps. The landmasses are gone, and humanity has been forced to live on floating cities, makeshift rafts, and on small islands. The remaining survivors are divided into factions, with pirates and scavengers preying on the weak.
The central character, known only as The Mariner (Kevin Costner), is a lone drifter with webbed feet and gills, implying that he is genetically adapted to life in the water. He is an expert swimmer and navigator, capable of surviving in the harsh oceanic environment. The Mariner is initially depicted as a cynical, solitary figure, uninterested in helping others, but his journey forces him to confront deeper emotions and questions about humanity.
The main plot follows The Mariner as he encounters a woman named Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and a young girl named Enola (Tina Majorino), who believe that the key to saving humanity lies in a map tattooed on Enola’s back — a map that leads to Dryland, a mythical place that is rumored to be the last remaining piece of land on Earth. The Mariner reluctantly agrees to escort Helen and Enola in exchange for a valuable commodity — dirt, which is rare and highly prized in this waterlogged world.
Their journey brings them into conflict with the Smokers, a band of violent pirates led by Deacon (Dennis Hopper), who wants to capture Enola and the map to control access to Dryland. Deacon’s crew is ruthless, and they relentlessly pursue the Mariner and his companions across the oceans, leading to high-stakes battles on the water and dramatic moments of survival.